“Enough to go to bed with me?” he asked idly, his voice so deadpan casual that she took a sharper look at him and realized he wasn’t relaxed at all. He seemed on edge, his lounging pose not consistent with the taut muscles she now noticed.
“Are you… nervous?”
Instead of denying it, he blew out a long breath and then raised his hands in a what can I say gesture. “I don’t want to ruin this,” he admitted.
“It’s just sex. You make sure I come, I make sure you come, it’ll be all right.” Nell couldn’t suppress a bubble of laughter at the surprise on Eamonn’s face. “What? I’m practical about these things.” She stood up, looked at the rest of the wine in her glass and chugged it down, then carefully set the empty glass on the coffee table before walking around it to stand in front of him. “You want to show me your bedroom?”
He gazed up at her, and the world went still for a moment. She saw his throat move as he swallowed. “Now?”
“Yes, now.”
He reached up and caught one of her hands in both of his. She thought maybe he’d pull her down onto his lap or something, but he only stroked her palm with his thumb for a moment, a subtle caress that sent tiny shivers of chemistry tingling all over her.
Then he stood up, and since she’d been nearly leaning over him on the couch, that put him inside the boundaries of her comfort zone, close enough that if she leaned forward even a tiny bit, she’d be pressed up against him. But she stood, straight-backed, leaving that tiny inch of space between them, waiting. Her pulse raced.
“I promised you the whole night,” he murmured. “Are you ready for that?”
“Bring it on. If you can make me forget this crappy day, I’ll be impressed.”
“Challenge accepted.” He grinned. “I’m going to blow your mind, Nella-bella.” Then he settled his free hand on the small of her back and pulled her gently against him, closed that last tiny gap between them, and bent his head to kiss her.
He tasted of wine. This was no hesitant lip to lip kiss — there was nothing gradual or coy about it. No pretense that they were going anywhere except to bed, and soon. Her mouth was open to taste him before he’d even got there, and his tongue plunged deep in a sensual caress that she met with glorious urgency. His hand slid down to get an unrestrained feel of her butt, as he broke the kiss just enough to murmur, “Upstairs?”
Part of Nell wouldn’t have cared at that point if he’d just bent her over the sofa, right there in the front room with the drapes open, but with some remaining shred of dignity, she managed to say, “Okay. Upstairs.”
With a last squeeze and a murmur of pleasure, Eamonn took his hand off her backside and put a little space between them, but his other hand had never let go of hers, and he didn’t release her fingers now. He tugged her toward the stairs. “After you.”
“This ‘ladies first’ stuff isn’t—”
He shook his head, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Honestly, I want to look at your ass while you go up the stairs. All right?” He was right behind as she climbed the steps, close enough to still be holding her hand. She could feel his eyes fixed on her, so she put a bit of a wiggle in her hips and laughed out loud when she heard an admiring muttered “Fuck me” in response. It felt good, to have him looking at her like that.
She reached the top of the stairs and stopped, looking around at the small hallway, wondering which of the four closed doors led to the bedroom. With a gentle tug on her hand, Eamonn twirled her around to face him and then they were kissing again, even as he moved them to one of the doors and pushed it open.
His bedroom made her think of sunshine, with yellow walls and creamy curtains, and a sunburst patchwork quilt on a vast king-sized bed with an old-fashioned metal frame. “Are you still feeling cold?” he asked, releasing her and crossing to the gas fireplace opposite the foot of the bed. “I can turn this on.”
“You’re warming me up all right,” she told him. “But I’ve never had sex in front of a fireplace. Might be nice.”
He flipped the switch and an instant fire sprang to life behind the glass. “Come on, then.” He leaned against the mantelpiece, waiting for her, one eyebrow cocked.
Suddenly, the expanse of bedroom carpet between them seemed miles wide. It’s just a bit of fun, Nell reminded herself. Two consenting adults scratching a mutual itch, no big deal. But the tense anticipation running through her as she closed the distance between them was unusual, unlike anything she’d felt before. Maybe it’s the day I’ve had. Strange circumstances, and all that.
She stepped into his personal space, hyperaware that she was putting herself within his reach. This wasn’t a sparring ring, and yet, she had a clear sense of stepping inside his guard. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder before running his hand down her arm until he could take her hand in his. His grip was warm and comforting, with fingers callused from the strings of his instrument. “So, how d’you want it, then?” His voice sounded casual, but his gaze held a delicious intensity, pupils so dilated with desire that his eyes seemed dark rather than blue. “I know we’ve joked about you needing to be on top, but… is that something
